Wednesday, February 27, 2013

A Cool Storage Idea to Keep your Creative Space Inspiring

Hey friends, recently I've been on a little bit of a mission...I realized that I needed to redesign my studio space, to make it more inspiring. It occurred to me that for the past few years, I'd relied on pieces from Ikea to house my supplies and tools and while those pieces are great, I wanted something that had a little more character, some pieces that really inspire me when I'm working. I have loved primitive pieces all my life and so as I have started on my studio makeover project, I've naturally been drawn to pieces that have bare wood, crackled surfaces, metals and pieces that feel like they have the "patina" of age and use around them. I needed a space that let me work in a more "artful" way.

While I was out over the weekend, I stumbled upon an antique, wooden cash register drawer at Rust and Roses in Phoenix that will help me keep lots of found objects and trinkets right at my finger tips and ready to use anytime I need them.

I won't kid you, I am not the most organized person in the world. And when I looked at how I was keeping some of my supplies, in the blue little storage bit below, I was really a bit uninspired. And it gets really easy for me to "junk up" little bins like this because I have a habit of "stashing" stuff just to get it out of the way.

I realized that if I used something to organize my supplies that looked cool and had lots of separate little bins, that I'd probably be able to keep things more organized, because I like the way it looks and feels, and those pieces would always be right at my finger tips, ready anytime I need them. And since this piece is an antique cash register til, I just love the way it feels to my hands...it's bare wood, a nice texture, and has some metal pieces and fittings which also give it come cool vintage character.

There are enough little bins that I can organize buttons, trinkets and findings, I reserved on bin for antique silk sari ribbon from Nepal, and since I've always traveled a lot of have coins and money from all over the world...I love the idea of using these coins in my work...and they make sense, or belong, in a cash register.

I have enough room to keep some interesting vintage photos right at hand...I even stashed some ephemera papers that I'd coated with ICE Resin...now they are ready anytime I need them and I won't have to shuffle through the little blue bins anymore.

Really, I just love how this feels...I love the tactile experience I get when I reach for something in one of the little bins...it feels organic, natural, and inspiring to reach for a charm or object when it's stored in an artful, inspiring way. I also feel really inspired by the creative energy that this piece imbues into my space...it's beautiful and useful.

Thank you for stopping by today to let me share a couple quick ideas on how I've decided to create a more inspired creative space. Your studio area can be both beautiful and utilitarian...and I feel like I am well on my way to living a more artful life when I surround myself with objects that inspire me...I also hope that you'll be inspired to find new ways to let yourself live an artful life...if you have any ideas you'd like to share...I am always open to new ideas...

Yes, Seth, you are right...it is kind of nice to admire supplies when they are displayed in an artful way, but I get a lot of satisfaction from running my fingers through the trinkets...so I hope that being able to see them and touch them will inspire to create more often with all the little yummies.

Hey Jann, don't be green...I am sure you could find something like this in your town...I think those printer's trays would be cool too...I have a wooden silverware tray that I re-purposed too...and it looks just as good. I'd also thought when I get tired of using this little drawer to store embellies...I might turn it into a shadow box. Thank you for popping in today!

Do you have room for one more "friend" in the "online world?" If so, my name is Shirley and I am following you from Canada. I have my own blog, but have not been active with it lately and hope to change that. Are you on YouTube at all?? My blog is http://www.shirley-mylifemyhobbieswork.blogspot.com if you want to peek at it, if not that is ok too. I love your blog and its nicely put together. Have a great day.

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